Hike the Neversink Hardenburgh Trail from Wild Meadow Road |
 |
| View of one of the bridges on the Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail in the Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest |
| |
| |
|
|
|
Maps for the Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail |
 |
|
|
|
| | Notes About Hiking the Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail |
|
| | TRAIL |
|
| |
The Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail runs through three separate New York State Forest. At the Balsam Lake end, the trail is on the Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest land. Once you leave the Beaver Kill Brook, the trail moves on to the Big Indian Wilderness land. When you get to the Wild Meadow Road Parking Area, that is on Willowemoc Wild Forest land.
The Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail is mainly a flat forest walk. There are no mountain summits. There are NO views, with the exception of a small section of the paved Wild Meadow Road. About 50% of this trail is an old road from many years ago. The other half of the trail was created in modern times. On this trail, you may hike, snowshoe, or ski on. You may not mountain bike or snowmobile on any part of it.
The best time to hike this trail is when the leaves are not on the trees. This trail can be combine with other trails in the region to create a backpack hike.
The section of the Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail that can cause problems is the turn between the trail being east-and-west and north-and-south. This section around the start of the Beaver Kill Brook is where some people walk off the trail. So, just review the section below to avoid this problem. It is less of a problem when the leaves are not on the trees.
After a large rain storm, you probably will not be able to cross the Beaver Kill Brook on the east-west and north-south corner of the trail.
| |
| | OPTIONAL SIDE TRIP TO TUNIS POND |
|
| |
Finding the old road that goes up to Tunis Pond is the biggest problem that most people have. Once found, it is fairly easy to follow. The old road goes up to the upper part of Tunis Pond. The upper section is about 1/3 the size of the Tunis Pond. You would need to bushwhack over to the larger part of Tunis Pond. The road up-and-down to the Upper Tunis Pond is 2/3 of a mile.
| |
| | CAMPSITES & LEAN-TO |
|
| |
There are three primitive DEC campsites. All of them are on level ground with easy access to water. The Lean-to is fairly overgrown in the summer months. Obtaining water for the lean-to is the biggest problem. You need to hike quite a ways to get water. So, beware of the water issue before you get there.
| |
| | PARKING |
|
| |
Parking at the Balsam Lake Mountain Parking Area is pretty easy. Not hard to find either. The biggest problem is that this parking lot can fill up to capacity on summer weekends. So, getting there early would be important. The Balsam Lake Mountain Parking Area is not accessible in the Winter. The Beaver Kill Road is closed 1.88 miles before the Parking Area. But, you can park at the Hardenburgh Parking Area and hike the 1.88 miles to the Trailhead.
In the Winter, you will have to use the Hardenburgh Parking Area and hike the 1.88 miles down the unplowed portion of the Beaver Kill Road to the Balsam Lake Mountain Parking Area.
The Wild Meadow Road Parking Area is hard to find without instructions or by using the GPS coordinates on your cell phone to direct you there. There are NO signs up to tell you that this is the official parking area. Maybe that is good considering that there are only four parking spots.
In the Winter you may have to park at Big Bear Parking Area, which is 2.4 miles from Wild Meadow Road parking Area to access this trail.
| |
| | OTHER INFORMATION |
|
| |
There is NO cell phone service.
|
|
|
| | DIRECTIONS to WILD MEADOW ROAD Parking Area from Exit 18 (New Paltz) |
| | Wild Meadow Road Parking Area WGS84 (DEC): 41.974833, -74.578967 - Elevation is approximately 2,608 feet |
| | Wild Meadow Road Parking Area Deg/Min/Sec: N41 58 29, W74 34 44 - Elevation is approximately 2,608 feet |
| | Wild Meadow Road Parking Area GPS: N 41 58.490, W 74 34.738- Elevation is approximately 2,608 feet |
| | Wild Meadow Road Parking Area UTM: 18N 534883 4647068 - Elevation is approximately 2,608 feet
|
| |
|
| | Get off New York State Thruway at Exit 18 (New Paltz). |
| | Take a LEFT out of the NYS Thruway onto Route 299 West. |
| | Go approximately 7.3 miles on Rt 299 West |
| | Take a RIGHT onto Rt 44 |
| | Go approximately 10.3 miles on Rt 44 |
| | Take a LEFT onto Rt 209 in Kerhonkson |
| | Go approximately 4.4 miles on Rt 209 |
| | Take a RIGHT onto Rt 55 in Napanoch |
| | Go approximately 16.1 miles on Rt 55 |
| | Take a RIGHT onto Claryville Road (Rt 157) |
| | Go approximately 4.6 miles on Rt Claryville |
| | Take a LEFT onto Frost Valley Road (Rt 47) |
| | Go approximately 1.4 miles on Frost Valley Road (Rt 47) |
| | Take a LEFT onto Pond Road |
| | Go approximately 0.7 miles on Pond Road |
| | Take a RIGHT onto Wild Meadow Road |
| | Go approximately 2.7 miles on Wild Meadow Road |
| | DEC Parking Area is on the RIGHT side of the road. Small Parking Area directly off road- Holds 4 cars |
|
|
| | DIRECTIONS to WILD MEADOW ROAD Parking Area from Exit 19 (Kingston) |
| | Wild Meadow Road Parking Area WGS84 (DEC): 41.974833, -74.578967 - Elevation is approximately 2,608 feet |
| | Wild Meadow Road Parking Area Deg/Min/Sec: N41 58 29, W74 34 44 - Elevation is approximately 2,608 feet |
| | Wild Meadow Road Parking Area GPS: N 41 58.490, W 74 34.738- Elevation is approximately 2,608 feet |
| | Wild Meadow Road Parking Area UTM: 18N 534883 4647068 - Elevation is approximately 2,608 feet
|
| |
|
| | Get off New York State Thruway at Exit 19 (Kingston). |
| | Take a RIGHT out of the NYS Thruway onto Route 28 West. |
| | Go approximately 30.4 miles on Rt 28 West |
| | Take a LEFT onto Rt 47 in Big Indian |
| | Go approximately 19.3 miles on Rt 47 |
| | Take a RIGHT onto Pond Road |
| | Go approximately 0.7 miles on Pond Road |
| | Take a RIGHT onto Wild Meadow Road |
| | Go approximately 2.7 miles on Wild Meadow Road |
| | DEC Parking Area is on the RIGHT side of the road. Small Parking Area directly off road- Holds 4 cars |
|
|
| | DIRECTIONS to BALSAM LAKE MTN Parking Area from Exit 18 (New Paltz) |
| | Balsam Lake Mtn Parking Area WGS84 (DEC): 42.0238, -74.60005 - Elevation is approximately 2,588 feet |
| | Balsam Lake Mtn Parking Area Deg/Min/Sec: N42 01 25, W74 36 00 - Elevation is approximately 2,588 feet |
| | Balsam Lake Mtn Parking Area GPS: N 42 01.428, W 74 36.003 - Elevation is approximately 2,588 feet |
| | Balsam Lake Mtn Parking Area UTM: 18N 533111 4652496 - Elevation is approximately 2,588 feet
|
| |
|
| | Get off New York State Thruway at Exit 18 (New Paltz). |
| | Take a LEFT out of the NYS Thruway onto Route 299 West. |
| | Go approximately 7.3 miles on Rt 299 West |
| | Take a RIGHT onto Rt 44 |
| | Go approximately 10.3 miles on Rt 44 |
| | Take a LEFT onto Rt 209 in Kerhonkson |
| | Go approximately 5.8 miles on Rt 209 |
| | Take a RIGHT onto Rt 52 |
| | Go approximately 19 miles on Rt 52 |
| | Take a RIGHT onto Rt 17 |
| | Go approximately 10 miles on Rt 17 |
| | Take a RIGHT on Debruce Road after getting off Rt 17 |
| | Go approximately 0.4 miles on Debruce Road |
| | Take a RIGHT onto Old Rt 17 |
| | Go approximately 1.3 miles on Old Rt 17 |
| | Take a RIGHT onto Beaver Kill Road (Rt 151) |
| | Go approximately 20.4 miles on Beaver Kill Road |
| | DEC Parking Area is at the end of Beaver Kill Road (on the RIGHT side of the road). |
| | NOTE: The Beaver Kill Road is closed 1.88 miles before the Balsam Lake Mountain Parking Area during the Winter months. In the Winter park at the Hardenburgh Parking Area, which is located 1.88 miles from the BLM PA. |
|
|
| | DIRECTIONS to BALSAM LAKE MTN Parking Area from Exit 19 (Kingston) |
| | Balsam Lake Mtn Parking Area WGS84 (DEC): 42.0238, -74.60005 - Elevation is approximately 2,588 feet |
| | Balsam Lake Mtn Parking Area Deg/Min/Sec: N42 01 25, W74 36 00 - Elevation is approximately 2,588 feet |
| | Balsam Lake Mtn Parking Area GPS: N 42 01.428, W 74 36.003 - Elevation is approximately 2,588 feet |
| | Balsam Lake Mtn Parking Area UTM: 18N 533111 4652496 - Elevation is approximately 2,588 feet
|
| |
|
| | Get off New York State Thruway at Exit 19 (Kingston). |
| | Take a RIGHT out of the NYS Thruway onto Route 28 West. |
| | Go approximately 45.4 miles on Rt 28 West |
| | Take a LEFT onto Spur to BWS Road No 10
(Look for Brown hiking signs for Huckleberry Loop & Kelly Hollow) |
| | Take a RIGHT onto BWS Road No 10 |
| | Go approximately 3.75 on BWS Road No 10 |
| | Take a LEFT onto Millbrook Road |
| | Go approximately 1.4 miles on Millbrook Road |
| | Take a RIGHT onto "Cross Mountain Road" (DO NOT take "Old Cross Mtn Road") |
| | Go approximately 4.3 miles on Cross Mountain Road (dirt road) |
| | Cross Mountain Road (dirt) will turn into Adler Creek Road (paved) |
| | Go approximately 2.2 miles on Adler Creek Road (paved) |
| | Take a LEFT onto "Beaver Kill Road" (No street sign - bridge on right) |
| | Go approximately 8.1 miles on Beaver Kill Road (paved then dirt) |
| | DEC Parking Area is at the end of Beaver Kill Road (on the RIGHT side of the road). |
| | NOTE #1: The Beaver Kill Road is closed 1.88 miles before the Balsam Lake Mountain Parking Area during the Winter months. In the Winter park at the Hardenburgh Parking Area, which is located 1.88 miles from the BLM PA. |
| | NOTE #2: Cross Mountain Road may be closed during the Winter months. Use an alternate route, like Barkaboom Road (further down BWS Road #10). |
| |
|
|
|
MILEAGE CHART - Hike from Wild Meadow Road PA TO Balsam Lake Mountain PA |
| | Mile Point | Altitude | Notes |
| | 0.00 | 2,608' | Wild Meadow Road Parking Area |
| | 0.46 | 2,635' | End of dirt Road / Beginning of Paved Road |
| | 1.01 | 2,602' | Trailhead for Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail |
| | 1.15 | 2,610' | Cross Stream |
| | 2.35 | 2,660' | Fall Brook Lean-to |
| | 3.45 | 2,670' | Leave Beaver Kill Brook |
| | 3.61 | 2,668' | Trail Junction - Go LEFT (Back to old trail) |
| | 3.73 | 2,565' | Trail Junction - Go LEFT (new trail) |
| | 3.76 | 2,545' | Campsite (east) |
| | 4.25 | 2,486' | Side Trail to Tunis Pond (Left of trail) |
| | 4.37 | 2,470' | Campsite (west) |
| | 4.47 | 2,460' | Rotting Bridge |
| | 4.60 | 2,442' | Trail Junction - Go LEFT (right goes to Beaver Kill Road |
| | 4.74 | 2,480' | Swamp off to the left of the trail |
| | 5.16 | 2,468' | Slimy Green Stream Crossing |
| | 5.24 | 2,490' | Dirt Road for Vehicles - Goes to private land (north-bound) |
| | 5.34 | 2,469' | DEC bridge - East |
| | 6.29 | 2,396' | DEC bridge - West |
| | 6.72 | 2,564' | Neversink-Hardenburgh DEC Registration Box |
| | 6.82 | 2,588' | Balsam Lake Mountain Trail Head |
|
|
Hike the Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail from Wild Meadow Road Parking Area |
 |
This is the West Meadow Road Parking Area. It can hold about 4 cars. It is on NYS DEC land. This parking area is NOT marked, and there are no signs when we visited it in 2023. You may park here.
To start your hike, continue hiking up Wild Meadow Road. It is a little then a 1/2 mile until you reach the dirt section of Wild Meadow Road. As you walk up Wild Meadow Road, there is DEC land on your right. About a 1/4 mile up the road, DEC land will end, and private property will be on both sides of the road.
|
|
 |
Once you reach the open area on Wild Meadow Road, you will have private property on both sides of the road. There will be another house on the left side of the road. The owner is a little cranky, so stay on the road. But, you will be able to get a nice view over the meadow of the Catskill Mountains while walking up the road.
As you walk up Wild Meadow Road, you will see a forest ahead, and the double-lane section of Wild Meadow Road turns into a rough one-lane dirt road. You will continue your hike up the one-lane dirt road, which is a continuation of Wild Meadow Road.
|
|
 |
As you start to walk up the one-lane dirt section of Wild Meadow Road, the land will suddenly turn back to DEC public land. Unfortunately there is no place to park on this section of DEC public land. The DEC public land will continue for another 1/4 mile before it turns back into private property again. You will continue to walk down the one-lane dirt Wild Meadow Road until the end.
|
|
 |
When you see a white house on your LEFT, this is where Wild Meadow Road will come to an end. When you walk past the house on the one-lane dirt section of Wild Meadow Road, you will see the Trailhead to the Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail. You want to take a LEFT and walk down this trail.
The DEC Trail Markers for the Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail are YELLOW.
|
|
 |
Within 50 feet, you will enter NYS DEC public land again. This is the Trailhead for the Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail.
The DEC Trail Markers for the Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail are YELLOW. For the next 2+ miles, you will be hiking on this double-track trail, which is mostly flat. Most of the trail is dirt with very vew rocks.
|
|
 |
After a short distance down the trail, you will come to this water crossing. If you need water for your hike, or if you are staying at the Fall Brook Lean-to, this is where you should stop and get water.
|
|
 |
Most of this section of trail looks like this picture above. It is generally flat and rock free.
|
|
 |
After hiking 1-1/3 miles, you will come to the Fall Brook Lean-to. There is NO water close by. The head of the marsh further up the trail is generally the best location to obtain water if you didn't bring any.
|
|
 |
The trail then goes through the forest on an almost level ground. Along the path it is common to see large trees along the trail. In the past, this was probably farm land.
|
|
 |
This is the large marsh on the Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail. If you are looking for water, keep hiking up the trail.
|
|
 |
This is the outflow of the marsh. It is the best place to get water if you are staying at the Fall Brook Lean-to.
|
|
 |
Again more flat hiking with another large tree.
|
|
 |
This is the Beaver Kill Brook. Do NOT cross the brook here! Continue on the trail to the very edge of the brook. The trail actually runs down the LEFT bank of the Beaver Kill Brook. The left bank has some larger rocks that you will need to hike down.
People often hike off the trail at this section, so follow these instructions carefully.
|
|
 |
This picture (above) was taken looking back up the trail. The grassy area at the top-center of the photo is where you were in the previous picture above. You want to hike across the rocks you see in the center of the photo. You will come to a 6-8' bank at the end of the rocks (bottom-center of photo). You want to climb up the bank to where this photo was taken.
Once on top of the bank, the trail can be easily seen. Follow the trail. The trail will take a turn to the left, and continue hiking until the trail ends at the bank of the Beaver Kill Brook (see next picture).
At this point, you will be leaving the Big Indian Wilderness and entering the Balsam Lake Wild Forest.
|
|
 |
You will need to cross the Beaver Kill Brook at this point. While the mossy rocks do not look safe, the tops of the rocks are often bare of moss and grippy enough to hop across the brook. After a large rain storm, the Beaver Kill Brook may not be able to be crossed at this point. You can consider crossing further up.
After you cross the Beaver Kill Brook, you will continue your hike downstream.
|
|
 |
After a short distance, there is a re-route of the trail. The old section of the Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail is partially washed out for about 25' along the Beaver Kill Brook. While you can still get down the trail, they decided to re-route the trail.
On your RIGHT, you want to look for the rock you see in the picture. Additionally, you want to look for the yellow birch tree growing on top of the boulder above the rock. On the left of those two objects, is the re-routed trail. So, when you find either of those objects, take a RIGHT onto the re-routed trail.
On your LEFT, are also yellow trail markers telling you to turn right onto the Re-routed trail.
If for some reason, you miss the trail junction to the re-routed trail, you can still continue down the old trail. Both paths will meet up again shortly.
|
|
 |
This is where the old path and the new path meet up on the western end. In another 150 feet you will encounter another capsite on your RIGHT side. The Beaver Kill Brook will be on your left side.
|
|
 |
This is the campsite that is located from the trail junction of the re-routed trail and the old path. There are no campsite markers for this campsite, but it is listed with the DEC as an official primitive campsite. So, it is legal to camp here. The campsite is level, and water is less then 100 feet away.
|
|
 |
This is an optional side trip to Tunis Pond.
It is located about 1/2 mile from the campsite you just passed. You may see an old road on the right side of the trail. The old road is easy to miss. It is overgrown and slightly eroded. This road will take you up to Upper Tunis Pond. The road is not maintained. If you encounter a campsite on the LEFT side of the trail, you passed the road to Tunis Pond 1/10 of mile ago.
The old unmaintained road up to Tunis Pond is about a 1/3 of a mile long. You can also bushwhack over to the larger part of Tunis Pond you see in the distance.
When you get done, return back down the old unmaintained road to the Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail.
|
|
 |
In about a 1/10 of a mile, you will see a faint trail (on your left) that goes down to the Beaver Kill Brook. By the brook is a DEC Primitive campsite. The land is flat and it makes for a good campsite. It is about 150' off the trail.
This is the last of three official DEC campsites on the Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail.
|
|
 |
In another 1/10 of a mile, you will come to this rotting bridge that is overdue for a new deck. Hopefully, it will get a new deck soon.
Most hikers walk up the middle of the tire tread boards where the vehicle tires roll over.
|
|
 |
In another 1/10 of a mile, you will come to this trail junction. You want to turn RIGHT. Look for the "Trail" sign, and the two Yellow Trail Markers telling you to turn RIGHT.
Straight will take you out to Beaver Kill Road (several miles away) near the Mongaup-Hardenburgh Trail. If your car is located in the Balsam Lake Mountain Parking Area, take a right when you encounter the double-lane Beaver Kill Road (continue straight past the single-lane dirt road a short distance ahead).
|
|
 |
After a short distance up the trail, you will see this swamp on your right. This is NOT Vly Pond.
|
|
 |
Further down the trail, you will encounter one of the few conifer forest on the Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail. It is a small conifer forest.
|
|
 |
This is the first of three water crossing in this section. This is the only one that does not have a bridge. But, you can cross this brook by hopping across the rocks. Some hikers refer to this water crossing as the Slimy Green Creek.
Vly Pond is located a short distance upstream.
|
|
 |
After a 2/10 of a mile past the slimy green creek, you will encounter this single-track dirt vehicle road. You want to continue across this road.
Right will take you to a private home. Left will take you Beaver Kill Road near the Mongaup-Hardenburgh Trail Parking Area.
|
|
 |
After another 1/10 of a mile, you will come to the second water crossing, called the Gulf of Mexico Brook. The Gulf of Mexico Brook has a nice bridge across it.
|
|
 |
For the next mile, the trail will have a variety of terrain. There will be a some hilly sections, but there are still a few flat sections.
|
|
 |
After a mile of hiking through the woods, you will encounter the third water crossing, which is call the Black Brook. After crossing the bridge you are about a 1/2 mile from the trailhead.
|
|
 |
This is the DEC Registration box for the Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail. Please register for your hike. Even if this is the end of your hike. Funds for trail maintenance are allocated based upon how many people register for the hike over time.
If you have questions on the rules of hiking in a New York State Forest, the rules are listed on the tree next to the Registration Box. The most important rule is that you cannot camp within 150' of a road, trail, building, or water source, unless it is a designated primitive campsite. Also remember that whatever you bring into the woods, you need to take back out of the woods. Leave No Trace ("LNT").
|
|
 |
The last 1/10 of a mile goes through an old meadow that now has a fern glade. Follow the trail down to the Trailhead at the Balsam Lake Mountain Parking Area.
|
|
 |
This is the trailhead at Balsam Lake Mountain Parking Area.
If you have a second car at the Balsam Lake Mountain Parking Area, your hike is done. If are hiking this as a round-trip, reverse your course back to the Wild Meadow Road Parking Area.
|
|
 |
This is what the Balsam Lake Mountain Parking Area looks like. There are enough spaces for approximately 25 cars. Please park your car so that others can fit in tightly. This parking area fills up on Summer weekends.
Please NOTE: The Balsam Lake Mountain Parking Area is closed in the Winter months. But, you can park at the Hardenburgh Parking Area 1.88 miles away.
|
|
|
S E C T I O N S
|
W E A T H E R
|
O T H E R
|
Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail (From Wild Meadow Road PA TO Balsam Lake Mountain PA)